PULLMAN- A concert featuring the award-winning WSU Jazz Big Band and VOJAZZ vocal jazz ensemble will be presented at 8:00 pm Tuesday, October 3 in Kimbrough Concert Hall. The special guest at the concert is Dean McNeil, a composer, arranger and trumpeter.
McNeil hails from Canada where he is Head of the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. His playing is featured on fifteen CDs and his composing and arranging has received widespread recognition including a prestigious award from Down Beatmagazine. Dean has performed with the Banff Centre Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Blue Bonnet Brass and the Birth of the Cool Repertoire Project, and is the leader of the Metro Jazz Ensemble of Saskatoon.
The concert will open with VOJAZZ performing under the direction of Jennifer Scovell. The program will include Dianne Reeves’ interpretation of the Richard Rogers standard “Loads of Love” and Al Jarreau’s “Mornin'” arranged by Greg Yasinitsky. Also, the group will present the first Northwest performance of Voice Dance by Greg Jasperse.
The Jazz Big Band under the direction of Meyer Distinguished Professor Music Yasinitsky will perform McNeil’s composition “Grattitude” and his unique arrangement of Gershwin’s “Our Love is Here to Stay”. The band will also perform “Quietude” by Thad Jones, “Make it Good” by Duke Pearson and “Two Seconds to Midnight” by Alan Baylock.
Soloists will include trumpeter John Gronberg, pianist Max Heath, guitarist John Sterling, and saxophonists Adam Donoue and Matt Lanka.
This concert is made possible by the WSU School of Music and Theatre Artsa, the WSU Jazz Society and the ASWSU Student Entertainment Board.
The concert is free of charge.
